Antifreeze device



April 18, 1950 MERDAN ET AL 2,504,861

ANTIFREEZE DEVICE Filed July 24, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORE ALEXANDER NERDAH ALEXANDER 1. Maamm, JR.

ATTORN EY A. MERDAN ET AL April 18,1950

ANTIFREEZE DEVICE Filed July 24, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 s R W N WAN: ND E m .M v m m M J 4 D 3 N R E Wm L 4 m 91L /-Od 9 Z ATTO R N E Y Fetented Apr. 18, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANTIFREEZE DEVICE Alexander Merdan and Alexander J. Merdan, Jr., New York, N. Y.

Application July 24, 1947, Serial No. 763,196

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an anti-freeze device for automobiles, airplanes and other motor vehicles.

This application contains subject matter in common with the previously filed application, Ser. No. 731,174, filed February 27, 1947.

More specifically the present invention prposes the construction of a device for installation in a motor block or radiator. The device operates electrically by Way of a resistance unit, and includes a movable part, this movable part preferably being a bodily movable one as a disc, piston or cylinder, which when in one position closes a circuit and in another position opens the same; so that as the temperature of the Weather nears the freezing point the ice expansion causes the disc orthe like to move away from its position which holds the circuit open to its other position, thus causing a contact to close the electric circuit, and causing the resistance unit to operate the device by causing it to operate the resistance unit at a sufficient heat. As the freezing point. endangers the motor, with the motors water jacket unprotected by being prepared with insufficient anti-freeze, or perhaps none at all, the device operates automatically to go on and oil to protect the motor from cracking.

Still further, it is proposed to provide a device as aforesaid having an ice operated outlet valve for controlling the electric resistance heater.

For further comprehension of the invention,

and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the device.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the device.

3 is a top plan view of the device.

Fig. 4. is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an aXial or diametric section of the device, on an enlarged scale, and showing the device in operative condition due to ice formation from water expansion after the water has come to afreezing temperature.

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of certain. parts shown in Fig. 5, these parts being included in the cylinder or piston which carries the resistance unit.

Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing all the parts of the cylinder and also all parts of the resistance unit in the cylinder.

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view on an enlarged scale of one of said parts, the same being a body of insulation carrying the resistance element.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view, on a further enlarged scale, taken on the line 99 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the device in normal condition or when the temperature of the water is below the freezing point.

Fig. 11 is a bottom perspective view of the resistance unit.

The anti-freezing device according to this invention comprises a casing I0 having a threaded nipple i i adapted to be screwed into the cooling system at any desired and appropriate place for allowing water in the water jacket of an engine to enter the nipple. The nipple is of large enough diameter to allow ice formed after the the water has reached the freezing point, to enter the bottom open mouth of the nipple as indicated at l2 in Fig. 5.

Nipple H may be secured in the motor block by a suitable hole tapped in the block for the installation of the nipple, or the nipple may be more permanently mounted in the motor block in any suitable way, since the removal of the nipple is at no time necessary.

The casing is a cylindrical shell closed at its top by a cap I4. The shell Ill and the cap M are telescoped at their juncture, by means of a ring l5 permanently suitably attached around its upper portion to the lower portion of the cap. The ring it, here shown as of one-piece constructicn with the cap M, is received into the upper portion of the shell Ill, for the telescoping joint, and then screws 16' are applied for removably locking the cap [4 on top of the shell Hi thereby to close the casing.

The cap i l has suitably secured therein an even cylindrical side wall I6 which depends into the interior of the cap. Within the wall H5 is a cylindrical fitting ll, made of non-conductive material such as hard rubber or plastic. It has a central bore 22 through which passes a bolt 22' having a counter-sunk head [9. An insulation disc 2!! is engaged over the-cylindrical fitting i1 and. when a ;nut 21 is applied to the upper threaded en'd of'the bolt 22', the bolt may be tightened over a suitable electric lead.

. A larger bore M ia-formed below bore 22 inthe cylindrical fitting I! and is provided with a coil spring 22*, adapted to contact the bolt head l9 at one end and the head 2201 a plunger rod 22 at the other end. The plunger 22 passes through another communicating bore 22 and permits free sliding motion for the plunger rod 22 The bolt, spring and plunger rod are of some metal of high electrical conductivity, as the up per portion of the bolt is to form one post of an electric circuit, to which post will be secured a wire for conducting electric current.

The fitting i? may be locked in place Within the cylindrical wall It in any way desired but as here shown it is assumed to be permanently locked in placev within said wall by a tight force fit.

The other wire of the circuit is secured to a post. 23 which is here comprised of the threaded shank of a roundhead screw 23 to which the other wire for conducting electric circuit may be attached under a nut 24. To prevent accidental loss of the screw 23 on careless removal of the nut, the screw may be permanently attached at its head to the inside of the top or cap id; for instance, by using a brass screw and brazing the head to the inside of the cap, which latter. as is also the shell i9, is desirably of brass;

Within the smooth cylindrical'interior of the shell Ill is a cylinder or piston structure marked generally 25, which as shown in Fig. 6 when cornpared with Fig. 8, comprises a cup 26',- topped by an apertured cover-disc 27, such cover-disc thus being in the form of a ring. The cylinder carries contact 28 which is in engagement with the inner wall of thecup 26 and is held in position by the outer periphery of the cover disc 2?. The

cylinder 25 is normally in the bottom of the shell and is electrically grounded to the shell and cover-disc 27.

If the water in the water jacket of an engine freezes, the ice will cause it to expand and force the cylinder 25 upwardly until the contact 28 carried by the cylinder, and projected upwardly through the opening in the cover disc 2?, contacts the plunger rod 22 When this happens, a circuit is closed through a resistance unit Within the cylinder; the circuit for energizing this unit including the wire going to the post provided by bolt 22, the spring 22 and the plunger rod 22 which connects with the contact 23, the screw 29 upwardly threaded into the lower part of said contact and connected to one end 3,! of the resistance element 3!, the cover-disc 21 connected with the other end 3P of the resistance element 3!, the cup 26, the shell I U and then the cap i l, to the post. provided by screw 23*, and so to the other wire of the circuit.

The cup 26 and the cover disc 2? are made of electrically conductive material, preferably brass. The fit between the outside surface of the cylindrical wall of cup 2's, and the inner surface of casing It, is such that while easy piston-like movement of the cylinder 2?: up and down in the shell it is provided for, the fit is so close that water may not enter the shell it above the top of the cylinder cup 2b. The bottom edge of cylinder I 4 and the top edge of cylinder 26 form a water-tight contactwhen the cylinder 26 is expanded and preventsv the water from getting into the cylinders.

The cover disc 211s securedin place in the top of'the cylinder 2e many suitable way, as by braning.

The structure provided inside the cylinder.

for having the latter carry the resistance heating unit 3|, and to prevent. any possible chance of short circuiting the. resistance unit, is mostclearly shown in Fig. 7, when compared with Figs. 8, 9 and 10.

In the bottom of the cylinder cup 23 is a stack of sheets ora block of mica 39' of disc-like shape,

with its circumference closely approaching that of the interior circumference of the cup 25. The mica element St is provided with a series of apertures 32 spaced around the same, which is used as an insulation against the heat of the resistance unit 3| to the brass cup 23 and so to the ice i2.

Immediately above the mica element is a body 33 of insulating material for'carrying the resistance unit. The body 33 is in the shape of a short cylinder having in its bottom an annular groove niunicating with the roof of said recess.

iii)

34. The resistance unit incorporates a coil of high resistance wire such as nichrome, and such coil is housed in the groove 33.

The body 33 is formed of a suitable ceramic material, as porcelain, and as formed to establish the groove 34, includes inner and outer depending skirts respectively marked 35 and 36, with the groove 3 surrounding the skirt 35 and being surrounded by the shirt 36.

Between the top and bottom of the body 33, the outer skirt 3G is provided with a series afra dially directed apertures 31-, these apertures spaced around the skirt, for more ready transfer of heat from the resistance unit 33 to the cylinder cup 2% and so to the ice I2.

The contact 28 is carried at the top of the body 33, said contact being a disc of less diameter than the central opening in the cover-disc 2'1. This cover-disc is immediately above the body 33, and is secured to the cup 26, as by brazings as already explained.

The contact 28, which then projects above the top limit of the cover-disc 27, is the head of a stud 38, made of a conductive material, as metal. The inner skirt 35 of the insulating body 33 surrounds a recess 39, and the shank of the stud is received in a. central aperture in the body'33 com- The lower end of the stud shank which is hollow and internally threaded, is ofreduced diamete", as shown at 69, which in turncontacts wire lead.

This portion ill of the stud is provided with a pair of aligned apertures il extending to the interior of the stud portion 45 a slight distance above the upper end of the thread therein. The top of the thread carrying recess in the stud pcrtion '50 is made flat, as the result of a suitable machining operation after said recess is drilled out before being tapped.

The screw 29 of brass or the like, and threaded to take the thread in the stud portion has the free end of its shank rounded for safe yet secure clamping of an intercepted portion of the end extension 3W from the resistance unit 3!, against the flat upper end of the threaded recess in the stud portion 48, when the screw is fully tightened up. This end extension 31 of the resistance unit 3| goes through an aperture &3 in the inner skirt 35 of the insulating body 33 and then through the aligned apertures 42 in the stud portion 40.

The other end extension El of the resistance unit 3! passes through an aperture 45 extending upward from the groove 34 to the top of the in-.

sulating body 33 and thence to anaperture146' through the cover-disc 21, where the same is soldered thereto.

Inside the casing made up of the shell I!) and the cap I5, is an expansive cylindrical coil spring 4?, at its top centered about-the cylindrical wall It and at its bottom resting on the top of cylinder 25 Well out of the way of contact 28.

The apertures I8 and [8" are breather holes to facilitate easy up and down movement of cylin der 25. The apertures [8, which it will be noted, are larger than the apertures it, have a further useful function. They may also act as orifices for spill there-through of water when the same, due to expansion consequent upon first formation of ice crystals, causes an initial slight rise of cylinder 25. As is well known, water crystals form first on the surface of the water, and the spill just referred to tends to cause a movement of the water toward the apertures l8, which in turn results in causing the ice formation to build vertically upward in and above nipple I I, thereby strongly to thrust the cylinder 26 to a height where contact 28 touches plunger rod 22 at the bottom of insulated fitting IT.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When the temperature of the weather nears the freezing point, the water in nipple H freezes and forms ice which expands against the bottom of cylinde 25, raising the cylinder until the contact 28 touches the plunger rod 22 at the top of the device. This contact closes the circuit between the wires connected to the plunger rod 22 and 23, and electric current flows through the resistance heating unit.

After the device has been raised in temperature again, the ice in nipple l I will begin to melt, and the pressure from the ice on the bottom of cylinder 25 will be relieved, and so free the spring 46 again to expand, thus forcing the cylinder 25 down in shell Ill. This will break the circuit by separating contact 28 from plunger rod 22 whereupon the resistance unit cools. Thus the circuit will be automatically made and broken to keep the water from freezing to a dangerous state.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An anti-freeze device for preventing the freezing of water in a cooling system, comprising a casing, a nipple at its lower end opening into the lowe portion of the casing, said nipple being connected to the cooling system, a piston normally resting on the lower portion of the casing and in position to receive upward pressure from ice rising in the nipple whereby the piston is caused to rise in the casing by upward pressure of the ice, a resistance unit mounted on said piston, the casing and the piston being of electrically conductive material whereby regardless of the position of the piston in th casing mutually touching parts of the piston and the casing act together to form a conducting means for electricity, one end or" the resistance unit being connected to the piston, means mounted on the piston for otherwise electrically insulating the resistance unit from the piston, a contact projecting from the top of the piston and connected to the other end of the resistance unit, a contact inside the casing carried thereby but insulated therefrom, a coil spring inside the casing above the piston for normally'holding the piston in the lower portion of the casing to disengage said contacts, said contacts being so spaced in the direction of rise of the piston that when the piston is forced upward against said spring by ice rising in said nipple said contacts engage to connect the re sistance with a source of electrical energy.

2. An anti-freeze device for preventing the freezing of water in a cooling system, comprising a casing, a nipple at its lower end opening into the lower portion of the casing, said nipple being connected to the cooling system, a piston normally resting on the lower portion of the casing and in position to receive upward pressure from ice rising in the nipple whereby the piston is caused to rise in the casing by upward pressure of the ice, a resistance unit mounted on said piston, the casing and the piston being of electrically conductive material whereby regardless of the position of the piston in the casing mutually touching parts of the piston and the casing act together to form a conducting means for electricity, one end of the resistance unit being connected to the piston, means mounted on the piston for otherwise electrically insulating the resistance unit from the piston, a contact projecting from the top of the piston and connected to the other end of the resistance unit, a contact inside the casing carried thereby but insulated therefrom, a coil spring inside the casing above the piston for normally holding the piston in the lower portion of the casing to disengage said contacts, said contacts being so spaced in the direction of rise of the piston that when the cylinder is forced upward against said spring by ice rising in said nipple said contacts engage to connect the resistance with a source of electrical energy, the resistance unit in the cylinder being insulated from the latter by means including a body of mica in the bottom of the piston, said mica body having a plurality of spaced apertures leading to said cylinder bottom for facilitating transmission of heat thereto.

3. An anti-freeze device for preventing the freezing of water in a cooling system, comprising a casing, a nipple at its lower end opening into the lower portion of the casing, said nipple being connected to the cooling system, a piston normally resting on the lower portion of the casing and in position to receive upward pressure from ice rising in the nipple whereby the piston is caused to rise in the casing by upward pressure of the ice, a resistance unit mounted on said piston, the casing and the piston being or" electrically conductive material whereby regardless of the position of the piston in the casing mutually touching parts of the piston and the casing act together to form a conducting means for electricity, one end of the resistance unit being connected to the piston, means mounted on the piston for otherwise electrically insulating the resistance unit from the piston, a contact projecting from the top of the piston and connected to the other end of the resistance unit, a contact inside the casing carried thereby but insulated therefrom, a coil spring inside the casing above the piston for normally holding the piston in the lower portion of the casing, a contact device at the top of the casing, said contact device being normally separated by the said coil spring from the said projecting contact, said contacts being so spaced in the direction of rise of the piston that when the piston is forced upward against said spring by ice rising in said nipple said contacts engage to connect the resistance with a source of energy, the resistance unit in the pis ton being insulated from the latter by means including a body of ceramic material, said resistance unit being a circularly arranged coil of a resistance element, said body having a groove in its bottom in which said coil is seated.

4. An anti-freeze device for preventing the 3*: fireezingiofj water inza cooling system, comprising a casing, a nipple atits: lower. end opening into:

the lower portion of thercasing, said nipple; being connected to the, cooling. system, a normally resting onv the lower portion.

casing. and in position toreceive upward. sure from ice rising in; the; nipple. whereby the piston: is caused: to rise" in the. casing. by upward pressure of the ice, a resistance unit mounted on saidpiston, the casing and the. piston belng of.

electrically conductive material. whereby regardless of' the position of the piston in the casing mutually touch .1,

for electicity,.one end of the resistance unit'being connected to the piston,,means mountedv on:

the piston for otherwise electrically insulating the. resistancev unit from the piston-, a contact projectingfrom the top of the piston, and corn nected to the other end of the resistance unit, a contact. inside the casing carried thereby but insulated therefrom, a coilspring inside. the cas and. keep continuous electrical contact or cr to close the electric circuit. and keep the res ance unit heated, the resistance unit in the piston being insulated from thelatter by means including a body of ceramic material, sad resistance being a coiled length of a resistance element, said body having an, annular groove in its bottom in which said coiled length is positioned, saidbody having an aperture extending upward from groove to. the topof the body and through which aperture is extended an end portion of said element, said end portion being connected tothe piston.

5. An anti-freeze device for preventing the freezing of water in a cooling system, comprising a'casing, a nipple at its lower end opening into the lower portion of the casing, said nipple being connected to the cooling system, a, piston normally restin the lower portionof the casing and in position to receive upward pressure from ice rising in the nipple whereby the piston is caused to rise in the casing by upward pressure of the ice, a resistance unit mounted on said piston, the casing and the piston being of electrically conductive material whereby regardless of the position of the piston in the casing mutually touching parts. of the piston and the casing act together to form a conducting means for electricity, one end of the, resistance unit being connected to the piston,

means mounted on the piston for otherwise electr'cally insulating the resistance unit from the piston, a contact projecting from the. top of the and connected to the other end of the resistance unit, a contact inside the casing carried thereby but insulated therefrom, a coil spring inside the, casing above the piston. for normally holding the. piston in the lower portion of the cas ing to disengage said contacts, said contacts being so spaced in the direction of rise of. the piston that when the piston is forced upward against Jon r the parts. of the piston and thecasing acttogether to form a conducting meanssaid: spring; by icerlsing-s in; said. nipple: said con,- tacts engage: to connect: the resistance; with; a; source: of electricalv energy, the: resistance unit: in the piston being. insulated; from. the latter by means including a body of .ceramicmaterial in thepiston, said pistonv being. comprised. of an open; topped cup and a disc :cover,,said resistanceunit: being: a circularly arranged; coil; of a. resistance element, saiolbody having a groovein-its bottom: in which said-coil isseated, said:body having:an. aperture extendingupwardzto the top of thebody; and through whichzapertureis passed an endv extension of said element, said endzextensiongbeinga connected. to; said cover.

6. An anti-freeze;- devicefor. preventing the? freezing-of water in-a cooling-system, comprising a casing, a nipple at its lower end opening into the lower portion of the, casing; said nipple being, connected to the cooling'system, a cylinder. nor.-

- m'ally'resting in the: lower portion of the, casing.

and in position to; receive upwarclpressure from ice rising in the nipple whereby the piston is caused to rise in the casing'by upward pressure of the ice, a resistance unit mounted on saidpiston, the casing and the piston being of electrically-con ductive material'whereby regardless of theposition of. the piston in the casing mutually touching.- parts of the piston and the casing acttogether: to form a conducting means for; electricity, one" end of. the resistance unit being connected to the:

piston, means mounted on the piston for other-- wise insulating the resistance unit; from the. pier ton, a contact projecting, from; the top of; the-pis ton. and connected to the other: end. of the; rcrsistance unit, a contact: inside; the; casing carried; thereby but insulated therefrom, acoil spring inside the, casing above the piston for normallyholding the piston in the lower portion of the; casing, a contact device at the top of the casing, said contact device being normally separated by the said coil spring from the saidprojecting con.- tact, said contacts being so spaced in. the direction of. rise of. the piston that when the piston is forced upward against said spring by ice rising in said nipple said contacts engage to connect the resistance with a source of electrical energy, the resistance unit in the piston being insulated from the latter by means including an apertured bodyof mica in the bottom of the piston, and a ceramic body above said mica body, said ceramic body having a recess in its bottom for housing saidresistance unit, said contact device including a spring pressed plunger rod adapted to be com-v pressed by the rising piston and keep continuous electrical contact in order to close the electric circuit and keep thre resistance unit heated, said plunger rod comprisingv a projecting, plunger pin, at one end and a retaining head at the other end, a compression spring contacting the retaining head at one end and a fixed electrical terminal at the other end, andv a ground terminal attached to said casing.

ALEXANDERv MERDAll.v

ALEXANDER, J.. MERDAN, Js.

REFEREE-ICES CITED The following references are of record in the. file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 13;: 1

1,524,658 Kelley Feb. 3, 1925 1,632,658 Manassero June 14, 1927 

